Ubisoft reports first-half sales drop, deems Q4 most important quarter in company history

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Nov 4th 2009 at 3:45PM }

Ubisoft has reported financial results for the first half of its fiscal year, ending September 30, 2009. Coming in at €166 million ($246 million), this year's sales represent a drop of 52% when compared to the first two fiscal quarters of the previous year. Second-quarter sales totaled €83 million ($123 million) -- a drop of 53.1%, though one that Ubisoft states falls within previously issued guidance.

Standout titles released during the period include the Western-themed first-person shooter, Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood (which has shipped 'close to 900,000 units'), reptilian brawler Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash Up and, "in certain countries," the Pelé-powered Academy of Champions.

Ubisoft points to its fiscal third quarter -- that's October to December on your official Secretive Hunks of Third Echelon Calendar -- as "the most important quarter in Ubisoft's history." Sales are expected to reach €540 million ($801 million) during the period, thanks to Assassin's Creed 2, Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines, James Cameron's Avatar: The Game, Rabbids Go Home and Shaun White Snowboarding World Stage. Ubisoft's also counting on several new casual and self-improvement games for the Wii and DS, which we imagine will help the financialz quite a bit.

Tags: academy-of-champions, assassins-creed-2, avatar, call-of-juarez-bound-in-blood, sales, tmnt, tmnt-smash-up, ubisoft

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

NaeemTHM @ Nov 4th 2009 3:52PM

Not to worry Ubisoft, you will get exactly 60 dollars from me later this month when Assassin's Creed 2 drops. That should tide them over until next quarter, right fellas?

LostOverThere @ Nov 5th 2009 6:04AM

They were also going to get an addition $60 on top of that for my purchase of Red Steel 2 - but oh wait, it's delayed.

:

2 slick @ Nov 4th 2009 3:55PM

They will also acquire whatever it costs Gamefly to purchase 1 copy of Assassin's Creed 2 from Ubi and ship it to me to play for awhile. THAT will definitely tide them over

216 @ Nov 4th 2009 4:00PM

yep ima gamefly AC2

The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Nov 4th 2009 4:17PM

knowing gamefly that'll be the only copy they get

Anthony M. @ Nov 4th 2009 4:19PM

@ Dark Wayne

Zing!

FNG @ Nov 4th 2009 4:34PM

I must be really lucky. I've gotten my new release games on release day every time. I've only been a member for about 6 months though. Do any of you veterans remember seeing a drop off at a certain time within your membership? We'll see if I get MW2 on 11/10/09. I would guess it will say shipped on 11/09/09 in my Q on Monday. I'm also buying it so it's not a big deal.

Taylor @ Nov 4th 2009 4:04PM

Had they put more time into TMNT: Smash Up, they might have sold me a copy. Good thing for Gamefly.

Kleptomaniac @ Nov 4th 2009 4:07PM

Didn't A.C 1 sell like 8 million copies? I don't think they have to worry much about the sequel.

NitroMikeo @ Nov 4th 2009 4:17PM

James Cameron's Avatar: The Game - Cannot wait. For film AND game.

Chibi Chaingun - blackhivemedia.com @ Nov 4th 2009 5:05PM

Completely agree. I got the nVidia 3D Vision glasses for the game. :)

Jose [Steam & PSN: Assmar] @ Nov 4th 2009 4:18PM

Okay, if it's the third financial quarter, why the eff is it still called Q4? Shouldn't it be Q3. I know they don't want us to figure it out, but this is just madness.

F1: Basu Gasu Bakuhatsu @ Nov 4th 2009 9:38PM

Well it's not like they have alot to compete with...

bluetev @ Nov 30th 2009 5:42PM

They will be ok. Assassin creed sold 8 milion in a very competitive fall 2007 market. AC2 has less competition, its no longer a new IP and much improved over AC1. Expect at least 10-12 million sales, which means revenues next quarter will at least triple. Hopefully that will persuade them to complete Beyond Good and Evil 2.